Term | Definition |
chordate | The phylum whose members have a chordate, a nerve cord, and slits in their throat area at some point in their lives. |
notochord | A flexible rod that supports a chordate's back. |
vertebra | The small bones that make up the back-bone. |
ectotherm | An animal whose body does not produce much internal heat. |
endotherm | An animal whose body controls and reglutes |
fish | an endothermic vertebrate that lives in the water and has fins |
cartilage | A connective tissue that is more flexible then bone and that protects the ends of bones and keep them from rubbing together. |
swim bladder | An internal, as-filled organ that helps a bony fish stabilize its body at different water depths. |
amphibian | An endothermic vertebrate that spends its early life in water and its adult life on land. |
tadpole | The larval form of a frog or a toad. |
ventricle | A lower chamber of the heart that pumps blood out to the lungs and body. |
habitat | The specific environment that provides the things an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce. |
reptile | An endothermic vertebrate that lays eggs and has lungs and scaly skin. |
kidney | A major organ of the excretory system that remove urea and other wastes from the blood. |
amniotic egg | An egg with a shell and internal membranes that keep the embryo moist. |
bird | An endothermic vertebrate that has feathers and a four-chambered heart, and lays eggs. |
crop | A bird"s internal storage pouch that allows it to store food inside its body after swallowing it. |
gizzard | A muscular, thick-walled part of a bird's stomach that squeezes and grinds partially digested food |
mammal | An endothermic vertebrate with a four chambered heart, skin covered with fur or hair, and young fed with milk from the mother's body |
mammary gland | An organ in female mammals that produces milk for the mammal young. |
monotreme | A mammal that lays eggs |
marsupial | A mammal whose young at born alive at an early stage of development, and which usually continue to develop in a pouch |
gestation period | The length of time between fertilization and birth of a mammal |
placental mammal | A mammal that developing embryo or fetus and the mother |